By LAUREN L. DILLARD
Of The News-Register
CARLTON - In the shadow of the old Carlton Fire Hall, smack-dab in the middle of a city park, the Carlton Pool is the place to be during summer's sweltering days.
"I like it here because I feel like I know everyone," said 15-year-old Elle Anderson, a Yamhill-Carlton High School student serving as a summer lifeguard. She said she recognizes most of the families that frequent the pool.
The outdoor pool is a family tradition. It has been around for more than 50 years, though nobody Wednesday seemed to be quite sure how many.
"I have a 40-year-old who used to come here," said Patty Findley of Newberg, who's been pool-going for about 35 years.
Findley's four children and eight grandchildren have all taken swimming lessons there. A granddaughter serves as a lifeguard and a daughter works at the nearby community center.
"It's well attended, but not over attended," Findley said. And she should know, as she goes three or four times per week.
Just before the pool's 3 p.m. closing time Wednesday, about 50 people were in evidence.
At the shallow end, a line separates the little swimmers with water wings from the bigger kids with intentions of making a splash off the diving board. Those under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.
Swimmers must pass a deep-end test before crossing the separator. They must be able to swim the width of the pool twice without touching the bottom.
"Don't jump into the pool," the lifeguard warned one youngster, as he positioned himself for a leap from the edge of the shallow end. That's reserved for the deep end.
The pool provides goggles, kickboards and dive toys.
Green swim noodles serve as chairs for 7-year-olds recently graduating from adult supervision requirements. Bigger kids practice cannon balls from the deep-end diving board.
Tuesday's 101-degree day was the pool's second-busiest so far this season, which opened June 22. Manager Ken Lemke said "a random Tuesday" had drawn the biggest crowd to date.
"The water's perfect," said lifeguard Kendra Kelly, a 17-year-old YCHS student. "We're pretty much here all day."
-- CUTLINE --
